Â£6 mln investment by poultry plant

Western Brand Poultry announces a Â£6 mln (€7.58 mln;
US$11.9 mln) investment in its Co Fermanagh plant to help it target retail
markets south of the border.

The company made the announcement during a visit to its Lisnaskea factory
by Stormont minister Nigel Dodds.

The company, which makes breaded chicken and egg products for the Irish and
British markets, acquired the former Moy Park factory after a fire destroyed its
breading plant in Ballyhaunis in July 2006.

The company looked at a number of possible locations before opting for
Lisnaskea, said managing director of Western Brand, Eugene Lannon. â€œThe
advantages it offered enabled us to hit the ground running and having acquired
the former Moy Park plant, we were processing products before the end of
December 2006,â€ he said, adding that this was essential as the company has
ambitious growth plans for the business with retail multiples in the
Republic.

Minister Dodds welcomed the investment: â€œThis Â£6 mln investment not only
provides an important boost to the economy of Co Fermanagh but will also assist
the development of the local food industry, one of our most successful sectors,
particularly for markets outside Northern Ireland,â€ he said, addign that Western
Brand is using the expertise, which exists in poultry and egg processing in the
Lisnaskea area, to further develop its already successful business in the Irish
Republic.